John Smith

Mr. John Howard Smith, age 78, of Marietta, Georgia, and formerly of Dalton, Georgia, passed away peacefully in his home in the early morning hours of Friday, December 27, 2024.

John was born on Saturday, August 31, 1946, in Dalton, Georgia, to the late Mr. Howard W. and Mrs. Lois England Smith.

In addition to his parents, John is also preceded in death by his brother, Kenneth Smith, as well as his grandparents, Dewey and Bernice England and Henry and Laura Smith.

John is survived by his wife, Alisa Stewart Smith; his children, John Todd (Debra) Smith, James Joseph Smith, Sara Bondell Stewart, Mollie Erin (John) Brewer, and Emily Ann (Ben) Hunsaker; his grand-children, Jasmin (Ben), John Mason, Jacob, Jillian, and Leon; his great-grandson, Miles; his sister, Audrey (John) Dunn; his sister-in-law, Sandra Smith.

John had a passion for flying from an early age, taking flying lessons at age 15.  He was a decorated helicopter pilot in the Vietnam war, earning a bronze star as a captain in the US Army.  John joined Waffle House in 1983 where he built and then managed the aviation department for over 40 years.  He then continued to serve as a broker in buying and selling planes that took him to numerous places around the world.

John had a love of people, travel, and music and could often be found at an off-the beaten path bar listening to live music and making new friends.  Always upbeat and having his famous line “I’m terrific”, John was loved by all who met him.  He was well traveled and lived an adventurous life.  He was always the face of calm and was the person you would want by your side in any emergency.

He lived fully, he loved fully and will be immensely missed.  In his honor, many rum and cokes will be raised.

Services to celebrate John’s life will be held on Monday, December 30, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. in the Chapel of Love Funeral Home, with the Rev. Mike England officiating.  John will be laid to rest following the service in Whitfield Memorial Gardens with Military Honors rendered by American Legion Post no. 42 out of Cartersville, Georgia.

The family will receive friends for visitation from 10:00 A.M. until the service hour.